Re: [DL] The Big Picture- Tying it all together - Some spoilers added

[J Tolle <jwtolle@altavista.com>]

>Australia/New Zealand as major agricultural exports.
>When you consider "New Science" refridgerated >shipping the amount of foodstuffs that could be >imported are staggering.

In actuality Refrigorated shipping was invented by an Australian - mainly for the reasons mentioned above.  And it was invented in the late 1870's no less.

IRL Australia by the late 1870's was still a colony.  Transportation had all but stopped (except to lonely and formidable Western Australia)  Mainly due to economic pressures - there was so much opportunity (and gold) to be had in the Antipodes that sending folks there was no longer a punishment.  Plus it was dashedly expensive.

Still, Australia looked to Britain as their protectorate until the Gallipoli incident in WWI.  Even that was not enough to convince the Aussie's to go independant.  As seen in the wonderful documentary "Beyond the Fatal Shore" They recently voted to remain a member of the commonwealth.

In my game, (as always, I am not Shane, and YMMV) a certain reckoner (who loses her horse in a certain future) thought that this relationship could be shook up a little.  The Reckoning happened just in time to keep transportation going.

A man claiming to be the son of the late NSW govenor William Bligh was (surprisingly) appointed as govenor himself.  Let's just say he has connections.  He had the brilliant idea of making coming to Australia punishment again.  Which was good for Britain because they were having problems with a resurgance in thievery and poaching (surprise, surprise.)  Needless to say his first move was to reopen Norfolk island, the terrible prison where (ironicaly) some of the "HMS Bounty" survivors families settled.  Govenor Bligh assured the Australian public that all the settlers on the island were relocated.

A discovory of Ghost Rock caused a resurgance of the Antipodean Gold Rush.  However the miners are treated horribly.  In 1875, a miner's revolt is the spark the Australian people need to begin they effort to throw off the Brittish yolk.

SERIOUS SPOILERS BELOW

This is not a war like the Civil War in the US.  Australia would soon run out of its little fear batteries.  Besides - why let War have all the fun.  This is the province of Famine and Pestilence.  Still the war is quite bloody, and it is fought on three fronts - Aborigianal people are also struggling to stay alive.  They attack Settlers and Brittish alike.

Worse still Brittian is fighting a war on thier home front.  The colonies close to home (Scotland and Ireland) also long to be free.  Into the mix steps President Davis, who assures them he can lower thier costs of transportation.  He steals Hellstromme's technology on making gates through the Hunting Grounds, and sells it to the Brittish.  They use it to send scores of Irish, African and Scottish POW's (and Brittish criminals who are now starving since Oz doesn't send as much food) cheaply to the Antipodes.  In return they agree to attack the North.  As they do Australia's population grows, and fear abounds......

And somewhere the Reckoners are laughing........

Jeff


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